Alice Hirata

Alice Hirata, age 96, of Reedley, passed away peacefully at Palm Village Health Care. She was born in Lindsay, Ca. and attended Rosedale Grammar School in Del Rey. She graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1932. Alice also attended Reedley College and a sewing trade school. She married George Hirata on March 12, 1936. Like most Japanese Americans during WWII, the family was interned at the Gila River Camp in Arizona from 1942 to 1945. They then returned to Parlier where they farmed and raised their family. After farming for 55 years, they retired in 1974. After retiring, they moved to Reedley and built their new home. Alice's activities were the Study and Civic Club, Eastside Country Club, Central Valley Blood Bank (Chairman), Volunteer at Sierra Kings Hospital with over 10,000 hours of volunteer service, and was the Reedley Chamber of Commerce "Woman of The Year" in 1990. Her hobbies included playing the organ, growing and arranging flowers and she was an excellent cook and baker. She was extremely proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always thinking of everyone else and how to make their lives more enjoyable. Her love, strength, determination, courage and grace will forever be in our hearts. The family of Alice Hirata would like to thank Community Medical Providers, their staff, and Dr. Rokhsanna Zaheen for the excellent medical care given during the difficult time of her life. Thank you also to the entire staff of Palm Village Retirement Community who's care and attention surpassed all expectations, and to Hinds Hospice who demonstrated dignity and respect for her fragile life in it's final moments. Alice is preceded in death by her husband George Hirata; a daughter, Kathlyn Hirata; her parents, Hatsuzo and Yeka Tanaka; brothers, Harris and Ted Tanaka; and a sister, Helen Mayeda. Alice leaves behind her son, Byron Hirata and his wife Juanita of Reedley; grandchildren, Garth Hirata of Las Vegas, Kristen Hirata-Wong and her husband Steve of Monterey Park and Catherine Newhall and her husband Henry of San Rafael; greatgrandchildren Katelyn, Sara and Sean Wong. Visitation will be held at Cairns Funeral Home in Reedley on Thursday, August 25, 2011, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Reedley Cemetery Memorial Building on Friday, August 26, 2011, at 11:00 a.m.